FETH-FIDA, OR THE BREAST-PLATE OF SAINT PATRICK.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIX, Issue 26, 27 March 1891, Page 7

FETH-FIDA, OR THE BREAST-PLATE OF SAINT PATRICK.

[The Breast-plate of St. Patrick wbb composed by the Baint A.D. 433, on the eve of his contest at Tara. His biographers tell us that on this occasion he exhibited such commanding signs of a divine commission, that from henceforth all serious opposition ceased. The following account of the hymn is found in Father Colgan'a Latin Tripartite Life of the Saint, p. 126:— •'Thus did this wonderful man, with bis companions, reach Tara, passing safe and unharmed through the midst of their enemies,— the blessed child Benignus all the while bearing on his shoulders the book of the Holy Scriptures ; for, like a sacred shield, above them hung the saving power of the prayer of the man of God. It was then that the holy man composed in the vernacular the hymn which by some is called ' Feth-Fida,' and by others ' The Breast-plate of St. Patrick,' since held in great honour by the Irish, owing to the belief, which e%perience hat verified, that threatening dangers of soul and body are averted frtm those who recite it with devotion." Some trifling variations are found in the various translations, but in all Latin and English the liviDg fire of the original breaks forth. It bears a strong resemblance to the " Canticle of the Sun," by St. Francis of Assißi. In both we find the same triumphant assertion of the dominion of faith over matter as well as spirit, with this difference : that, whereas in the mind of St. Francis, sun, stars, and fire are his " brothers and sisters," St. Patrick summons and " binds them to himself " bs servants and soldiers of the great King whose commission he bears. Usher says that the MS. of the hymn belongs to the seventh century, and Dr. Petrie styles it the oldest undoubted monument of the Irish language.] I bind to myself this day The strong virtue of the Invocation of the Trinity, The Faith of the Trinity in Unity, The Creator of the Elements. I bind to myself this day The power of the Incarnation Of Christ and His Baptism, The power of His Crucifixion With His Burial, The power of His Resurrection With His Ascension. In virtue of His coming to the Sentence of the Judgment, I bind to myself this day Tbe power in the love of Seraphim, In obedience of Angels, In the hope of Resurrection unto reward, In the prayers of the Patriarchs, In the predictions of Prophets, In the preaching of Apostles, In the faith of Confessors, In the purity of Virgins, In the deeds of holy men. I bind to myself this day The strength of heaven, The light of the sun, The whiteness of snow, The force of fire, The flashing of lightning, The swiftness of wind, The depth of the sea, The stability of the earth, The hardness of rocks. I bind to myßelf this day The Power of God to guide me, The Might of God to withhold me, The Wisdom of God to teach me, The Eye of God to watch over me, The Ear of God to hear me, The Word of God to give me speech, ' The Hand of God to protect me, The Way of God to lie before me, The Shield of God to shelter me, The Host of God to defend me, Against the snares of demons, Against the temptation of victs,

Against the lusts of nature, Against every man that meditates injury to me, Whether far or near, Whether alone or with many . I have invoked all these virtues Against every hostile savage power Warring upon my body and my eoul, Against the enchantments of false prophets, Against the black laws of heathenism, Against the false lawa of heresy, Against the deceits of idolatry, Against the spells of women magicians and druids, Against all knowledge which blinds the soul of man, Christ protect me this day Against poison, against burning, Against drowning, against wounding, That I may receive abundant reward, Christ be with me, Christ in the front, Christ in the rear, Christ within me, Christ below me, Chrißt above me, Christ at my right hand, Christ at my left, Christ in the fort, Christ in the chariot seat, Christ in the helm, Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks to me, Christ in every eye tuat sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me. I bind to myself this day The strong faith of the Invocation of the Trinity, The Faith of the Trinity in Unity, The Creator of the elements. Salvation is the Lord 's, Salvation is the Lord's, Salvation is from Christ. Thy salvation, O Lord, be with us for ever.